Tobacco package with built in ashtray



July 9, 1963 J. M. WHlTLEY ETAL 3,096,873

TOBACCO PACKAGE WITH BUILT IN ASI-ITRAY Filed June 21, 1961 2Sheets-Sheet 1 TORS James/ INVEN ATTORNEYS,

July 9, 1963 J. M. WHITLEY ETAL 3,096,378

TOBACCO PACKAGE WITH BUILT IN ASHTRAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 21,1961 ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent ()fiice 3,095,878 Patented July 9, 1963 3,096,878TOBACCO PACKAGE WITH BUILT IN ASHTRAY James M. Whitley and William N.Whitley, both of 3875 E. 154th L, Cleveland 28, Ohio Filed June 21,1961, Ser. No. 118,716 1 Claim. (Cl. 206-41) This invention relates to atobacco package such as a cigarette package, and more particularly tosuch a cigarette package that has .a built in ashtray.

The primary object of the present invent-ion is to provide a cigarettepacakge which includes a wrapper there on, and wherein the wrapper isadapted to be made of transparent material, and wherein the wrapper isprovided with an opening that has a removable closure thereon, so thatwhen it is desired to use the built in ashtray, the removable closurecan be manually removed to expose the opening so that ashes from acigarette or the like can be deposited in a tray that is arranged toconveniently receive the ashes from the cigarette.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a built inportable cigarette ashtray which is arranged and constructed so thatashes can be conveniently received and stored therein, and wherein whendesired the parts can be arranged so that the ashes cannot accidentallyescape or spill from the ashtray, and a further object of the presentinvention is to provide a built in portable cigarette ashtray which isextremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent fromthe detailed description which follows and by reference to theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the built in portable cigaretteashtray of the present invention, and showing the position of the partsin their initial location before the user starts to open the package orwrapper.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view generally similar to FIG. 1 but showing theparts in extended position and illustrating the step of removing theclosure to expose the opening in the wrapper for permitting the ashes tobe deposited in the tray.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the opening in thewrapper closed by the cigarette package and showing the ashtray incollapsed or folded position.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but showing theparts inextended position so that the ashtray is extended ready toreceive ashes, and showing the hole or opening in the wrapper exposedand with the closure for the opening removed.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at right angles to the viewshown in FIG. 3 and with the parts in the position of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section-a1 view taken in a plane similar to thatshown in FIG. 6, but with the parts in the position of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view, with parts broken away showingashes being held or stored in the device and showing the opening in thewrapper closed by the cigarette package.

FIG. 9 is a view in elevation, with parts broken away and in sectionshowing how the device can be turned upside down to empty the ashes intoa suitable receptacle or the like.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view with the parts in a position such as thatshown in FIG. 5, and illustrating the positioning of the cigarette inrelation to the ashtray.

FIG. 11 is :a plan view of the blank for making the ashtray and showingthe blank per se.

FIG. 12 is an edge view of the blank of FIG. ll.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the ashtray per se, with parts brokenaway and in section.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the opening forreceiving ashes from the cigarette, and illustrating a bright coloredline that is adapted to be arranged contiguous to the opening in orderto facilitate location of the opening by the user.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 20 indicates thearticle constructed according to the present invention which is shown tocomprise a cigarette package that is indicated generally by the numeral21, and the numeral 22 indicates a transparent wrapper for the package21, FIG. 2. The numeral 23 indicates a pull tape that may be provided onthe wrapper 22 and this tape 23 can be manually removed when the articleis to be used. The cigarette package 21 may be provided withadvertisements, printed matter or the like as indicated by the numeral24, so as to indicate the brand of cigarettes in the package in theusual manner, and such printed matter may be viewed through thetransparent wrapper 22.

As shown in the drawings the wrapper 22 includes an end wall 25, as wellas spaced parallel side walls 26, and one or both of the side walls 26may be provided with printed matter thereon as indicated by the numeral27, FIG. 2, and such printed matter 27 may consist of instructions ordirections explaining how to use the article of the present invention.The wrapper 22 further includes spaced parallel back and front walls 28and 29, and the front wall 29 is provided with an oval shaped accessopening or aperture 30 which is adapted to be selectively closed by aclosure 31, as later described in this application, and a tear strip orpull tape 32 is adapted to be manually gripped in the fingers 33 inorder to facilitate removal of the closure 31 from the opening 30, asfor example as shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. :14 there is illustrated by thenumeral 34 a brightly colored line or marking which may have a red colorand such a bright line 34 is adapted to be arranged around the outerperiphery of the opening 30 in order to call attention to the opening 30so that the user can readily locate the opening 30, and this brightcolored marking 34 may be of the type which is formed on the wallsurface 29 by transfer of a bright colored pigment or ink from theclosure to the wall surface 29.

According to the present invention there is provided an ashtray which isindicated generally by the numeral 35, and the ashtray 35 is adapted tobe made of a material which will not burn as for example the tray 35 canbe made of aluminum foil or other incombustible material in sheet form.The sheet is sub-divided by fold lies 38 to form a first panel 50, asecond panel 52, a third panel 54, and a fourth panel 56 which extendfrom one wrapper side wall to the other and are in abutting face to facere lation when the wrapper 22 is in the normal position enclosing thepackage 21, as in FIGURE 1. Upon opening of the end of the wrapper 22remote from the one end wall 25, the wrapper 22 may he slid on thepackage 21 to an extended position, as in FIGURE 2, in which the panelsof the tray are unfolded and the intermediate adjacent second panel 52and the third panel 54 form a trough 39 with the first panel 50 and thefourth panel 56 sloping upwardly on each side of the trough 39. A flap36 is provided on one of the end panels and adhesive or other securingmeans fixes the flap 36 to the inner surface of the end wall 25. Theopposite end panel of the sheet is provided with a lip 37 similarlysecured to the bottom of .the cigarette package 21 so that when thewrapper 22 is slid on the package 21 to the extended position the traypanels will unfold and when the wrapper is slid to the normal positionthe panels will fold.

The trough 39 formed by the second panel 52 and the third panel 54, whenthe wrapper is in the extended position, has its apex spaced from thewrapper back wall and spacers with the adjacent portions of the back andside walls forms a chamber 47 for receiving ashes from the trough, therebeing provided a cutout 41 in one end of the trough providingcommunication between the trough and the chamber. An abutment or tab 40is provided in the trough spaced from the cutout so as to receivethereagainst the lit end of the cigarette when projected through theaccess opening in the wrapper front wall.

In FIG. the numeral 43 indicates the position of a cigarette which isextended through the opening 30 as when the closure 31 is removed, andthe cigarette 43 includes a lit or burning end 44, and in FIG. 10 thenumeral 45 indicates a supporting structure such as a table or the likewhich may be used for supporting the article. In FIG. 9 the article isshown upside down whereby ashes can be dumped or emptied into areceptacle such as the receptacle indicated by the numeral 46.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided acigarette package with a built in ashtray, and in use with the partsarranged as shown in the drawings, it will be seen that when the articleis initially purchased or obtained, the parts are in the position suchas that shown in FIG. 1, and then when the device is to be used the tape23 can be manually moved so as to permit the cigarette package 21 to bepartially withdrawn from the wrapper 22 so that the parts can be movedfrom a position such as that shown in FIG. 1 to a position such as thatshown in FIG. 2. Since the tray 35 is arranged within the wrapper 22,and since one end of the tray as indicated by the numeral 37 is securedas by means of a suitable glue or adhesive to the package 21, while theother end 36 is secured to the end wall 25 of the wrapper, it will beseen that as the package 21 is moved partially out of the wrapper, thetray 35 will be extended or expanded due to its accordion likeconstruction. The indicia or printed matter as indicated by the numeral27 on the side of the wrapper 22 is adapted to include arrows so as to.provide instructions for the use of the present invention, and forexample one arrow may point in one direction indicating the direction ofmovement to be followed in order to close the device, and there may bean oppositely pointing arrow to indicate the direction for opening thearticle.

The pull tape 32 can be manually gripped as for example between thefingers 33 and -by removing the tape 32, the closure 31 will be removedfrom the opening so that with the parts arranged in extended position, acigarette such as the cigarette 43 can :be positioned or extendedthrough the uncovered or exposed opening 30 whereby the lit end of thecigarette 43 as indicated by the numeral 44 [can rest on the tray 35 asfor example as shown in FIG. 10, and the tab helps maintain the ashes 42in their proper position on the tray 35. With the cigarette 43 removedfrom the device, after the ashes 42 sufficiently cool off, the devicecan be manually tapped on so as to cause the ashes to move through thecutout or opening 41 whereby such ashes can be received in the storagearea 47, FIG. 8. With the ashes 42 received inthe area, 47, the package21 can be pushed into the wrapper 22, as for example as shown in FIG. 8whereby the device can be held in this position until a convenient time,and with the parts in the position of FIG. 8 it will be seen that thepackage 21 closes the opening 30 so that the ashes will not accidentallyspill out through such opening. When a convenient receptacle such as acontainer 46 is available, the cigarette package 21 can again bepartially extended as for example as shown in FIG. 9 and then the entirearticle can be turned upside down and by tapping on the article gentlywith the fingers, the ashes 42 will fall out of the opening 47 throughthe cutout 41, then through the opening 30 into a container orreceptacle 46.

The tray 35 is adapted to be made of a material which will not burn, asfor example the tray 35 can be made of thin aluminum foil. The wrapper22 is adapted to be made of a transparent material such as cellophane.While the present invention has been described'specifically for use inconnection with a package of cigarettes, it is to be understood that itis adapted to be used with other members or articles such as packages ofcigars, other packages of suitable tobacco products or the like.

The flap 36 is secured in place slightly up from the lower end of thewall 25 so as to help insure that the ashtray will be supported in aslightly raised position in order to prevent a hot surface from damaginga finished surface or the like.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapesor sizes.

In the view shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, it will be seen that the tray 35may consist of a single piece of material which can be folded alongcrease or fold lines in order to provide the finished tray having theaccordion like structure.

The portable built in ashtray of the present invention can be used forholding cigarette butts, ashes, stubs of cigars or the like, and thepresent invention is especially suitable for use in periods whereconventional or regular ashtrays are not readily available and forexample can be advantageously used during periods of travel, when incertain buildings or the like.

To open or close the device, the forefinger and thumb are adapted to beplaced along the sides of the package and the cellophane wrapper can heslid in the proper direction as indicated by :the arrows 27, and whenthe cellophane wrapper is slid back into original position, the ashesare held and will not spill. The use of a colored marking strip orborder 34 makes the opening 30 readily visible. The tab 40 serves toprevent cigarettes, ashes or the like from falling of]? of the tray, andthe hole or opening 41 permits the ashes to fall into the package areaas indicated by the numeral 4-7.

When the device is being used, the tear tape 32 is adapted to be pulledon so as to remove the closure 31 and provide the opening 30, and theforefinger and thumb are used to slide the cellophane wrapper 22 :andthus expose the aluminum foil tray 35, and the Wrapper is slid backuntil the opening 3%) is directly over the center of the tray 35, andthe ashtray is then ready for use. To rest a cigarette thereon, theburning tip 44 of a cigarette such as the cigarette 43 is adapted to bedirected through the opening 31 and placed against the tab 4t] as shownin FIG. 10, and the ashes can be stored by shaking them through theopening 41 after the ashes cool off. When the wrapper is slid back intoits original position as shown in the drawings, the ashes cannot escapeor spill.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming withinthe field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, ifdesired.

What is claimed is:

The combination with a cigarette package including a bottom, and awrapper having spaced side walls, a front wall, a back wall, and an endwall connecting the adacent ends of said front, back, and side wallstogether, sa d Wrapper norm-ally enclosing said package and upon beingopened at the end remote from said end Wall being slidable on saidpackage from the normal position to an extended position in which saidend wall is spaced from sa d bottom, of a tray for cigarette ashes, saidtray comprismg a flat sheet folded along :a plurality of parallel foldlines to form a flap, first, second, third, and fourth panels, and alip, said flap being on one end of said sheet and being secured to saidwrapper end wall, said lip being on the other end of said sheet andbeing secured to said package, said first, second, third, and fourthpanels being disposed in face to face abutting relation between saidflap and said lip when said wrapper is in the normal positron, saidsheet unfolding upon execution of movement of said wrapper from thenormal position to the extending position so that said second and thirdpanels form a V-shaped trough with said first and fourth panels slopingupwardly on each side of said trough, said Wrapper front wall beingprovided with an access opening in registry with said trough when saidWrapper is in the extended position, and an abutment in said troughspaced from said trough opening for positioning the lit end of acigarette 5 When said cigarette projects through said access opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6Montgomery Oct. 27, 1936 Douglas Feb. 23, 1937 Duhaime et al. Feb. 24,1953 Cohen et a1. Oct. 2, 1956 Watkins Jan. 30, 1962 Content Apr. 10,1962 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Feb. 18, 1926 Australia Mar. 2, 1926 CanadaJune ,29, 1954

